Arts Entertainment The Little Theater That Could II His Mark SUZANNE CHESSLER Special to the Jewish News M ark Medoff has been writing successful plays for some 30 years — the Tony Award- winning Children of a Lesser God, for one — and has developed his own system for gauging audience reaction. He watches for people moving around in their chairs. That's what he'll be doing at West Bloomfield's Jewish Ensemble Theatre, where he will be attending rehearsals and then early performances of his Tommy J 6- Sally, which runs Oct. 2-Nov. 3. Tommy J & Sally opens JET's 13th sea- son; which includes four plays; a new series of three guest programs; a continua- tion of its Campaign Stop Hate, with pre- sentations for youths; and a bar mitzvah celebration that mixes tradition with improv theater. The bar mitzvah year builds on a 2001- 2002 repertoire that has brought the com- pany a high degree of recognition. The Detroit Free Press, the Oakland Press and Between the Lines all recently presented JET with awards for having the best season among all the other professional theater companies dotting metro Detroit. Three other plays will fill out the 2002- 2003 JET subscription season. Visiting Mr. Green, by Jeff Baron, run- ning Dec. 4-Jan. 5, tells about the often- humorous relationship shared by men of different generations. Denial, by Peter Sagal, running Feb. 26- March 30, recounts the experiences of a Holocaust denier, represented by a Jewish attorney, who is indicted by the govern- ment for inciting violence. The Chosen, adapted by Aaron Posner and Chaim Potok from Potok's book, run- ning May 7-June 9, returns to Brooklyn for a story of friendship, religion, fathers and sons. Two-Character Play Tommy J 6. Sally, in only its fourth pro- duction and making its Midwest debut, is open to change since being staged at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The two-character piece tracks the tension as an' unbalanced fan holds a controversial celebrity hostage. Their encounters about race, religion and personal identity reveal wounds from the past. "I don't think anything is ever finished, and. I've already made a few changes for the Michigan production," says Medoff, 62, Playwright Mark Medoff Accidental playwright. Guest Artist Series JET offers new programming. Three programs outside regular pro- ductions enhance this season's JET schedule — a panel discussion on cre- ativity, a sole-performance exploring the character of Shylock and an original play geared toward teens. "This is the first year that we have the Jewish Community Center theater without interruption between October and June, so we thought we'd do some things we have wanted to do for a long time," says Evelyn Orbach, JET artistic director. "We believe the Guest Artist Series will help us grow as a company." Programs include: 9/20 2002 72 • "Mystery of Creativity," a panel dis- cussion with mystery Gareth Armstrong brings "Shylock" to JET novelist and screenwriter Elmore (Dutch) Leonard, JET and the eyes of Shylock's friend, Tubal, the Michigan Opera Theatre set designer only other Jewish character in the The Monika Essen and Eminem music pro- Merchant of Venice. ducer Jeff Bass at 7:30 p.m. Monday, • HeartBEAT, a play presented April Oct. 14. 5-6 that combines classic Greek theater • Shylock, a one-person theater piece and the poetry of the street with step performed Nov. 6-24 by Royal dance; rbythm and song as defined by Shakespeare alumnus Gareth Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit. Armstrong, who tells the story of "The [panel] discussion came at the Shakespeare's most famous Jew through suggestion of Dorie Shwedel and Joan Israel, of Nonesuch Productions, who are interested in exploring the subject of creativity through different people," Orbach explains. "I saw the Shylock piece, which has been done in many countries, and was very impressed. Mosaic has done so well with teens that I wanted to present the company." — Suzanne Chessler Ticket prices are $50 for the panel discussion and $18-$30' for the performances, witi- • discounts for seniors and students. (248) 788-2900.